Roller sheet material dispenser

Abstract

There is disclosed a film dispenser comprising a housing adapted to receive and hold a roll of film and having a dispensing opening through which a layer of film may pass, the dispenser being provided with a movable cutting unit having a blade mounted therein, the dispenser further comprising a cutting channel shaped and positioned to receive said blade. It is preferred that the dispenser has means to maintain tension in the film as it is cut.

1 . A film dispenser comprising a housing adapted to receive and hold a roll of film and having a dispensing opening through which a layer of film may pass, the dispenser being provided with a movable cutting unit having a blade mounted therein, the dispenser further comprising a cutting channel shaped and positioned to receive said blade.  
   
   
       2 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cutting channel is defined by elongated elements projecting from the surface of the housing, which lie substantially parallel to the dispensing opening.  
   
   
       3 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  which further comprises film tensioning means to maintain the tension in a layer of film positioned over the cutting channel.  
   
   
       4 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the film tensioning means comprises a gripping surface located on one side of the cutting channel.  
   
   
       5 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the film tensioning means comprises a pair of gripping surfaces, one on each side of the cutting channel.  
   
   
       6 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the superior surface of the elongated elements provide the gripping surfaces.  
   
   
       7 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the gripping surface has a shear force in relation to PVC cling film of greater than 100 Nm−1.  
   
   
       8 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each gripping surface is formed from a modified nytril rubber PVC.  
   
   
       9 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the movable cutting unit comprises a blade holding channel, the blade holding channel being defined by longitudinal flanges with the blade mounted therebetween.  
   
   
       10 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the interior sides of the longitudinal flanges are adapted to co-operate with the exterior surfaces of the elongated elements.  
   
   
       11 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the movable cutting unit is provided on a lid portion which is connected via a hinge to the dispenser, the axis of the hinge lying substantially parallel to the cutting channel.  
   
   
       12 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is further provided with film presentation means.  
   
   
       13 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the film presentation means comprises a member located between the cutting channel and the dispensing opening, said member being deflectable from a film presenting position, where it stands proud from the dispenser and the roll of film, to a retracted position where it lies substantially within the housing.  
   
   
       14 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the housing and the film presenting means are each made from one piece of plastics material.  
   
   
       15 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the housing and the film presenting means are extruded.  
   
   
       16 . A dispenser as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the blade is metal saw-toothed blade.  
   
   
       17 . A method of severing a piece of film from a layer of film comprising the steps of: 
 providing a layer of film over a cutting channel;    providing tensioning means to maintain the tension in the layer of film over the cutting channel; and    severing said layer of film with a blade.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tensioning means comprise a pair of gripping surface positioned one on each side of the cutting channel.